This Promise of Change One Girl’s Story in the Fight for School Equality

Recipient of a Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor
Winner of the 2019 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction
2020 National Council for the Social Studies Carter G. Woodson Honor Recipient
A NYPL Top Ten of 2019
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

In 1956, one year before federal troops escorted the Little Rock 9 into Central High School, fourteen year old Jo Ann Allen was one of twelve African-American students who broke the color barrier and integrated Clinton High School in Tennessee. At first things went smoothly for the Clinton 12, but then outside agitators interfered, pitting the townspeople against one another. Uneasiness turned into anger, and even the Clinton Twelve themselves wondered if the easier thing to do would be to go back to their old school.

Jo Ann--clear-eyed, practical, tolerant, and popular among both black and white students---found herself called on as the spokesperson of the group. But what about just being a regular teen? This is the heartbreaking and relatable story of her four months thrust into the national spotlight and as a trailblazer in history.

This Promise of Change is based on original research and interviews and features backmatter with archival materials and notes from the authors on the co-writing process.

About the author

Jo Ann Allen Boyce, Debbie Levy

Product details

• Authors: Jo Ann Allen Boyce, Levy Debbie, Debbie Levy
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Content: Book
• Product form: Paperback / Softback
• Publication date: 01.04.2025
• Subject: Children's and young people's books > Non-fiction books / Non-fiction picture books > Mankind
• EAN: 9781547604487
• ISBN: 978-1-5476-0448-7
• Pages: 320
• Age Recommendation: ages 10 to 12
• Dimensions (packing): 14 x 21 cm
• Weight (packing): 349 g
• Subjects: USA, 20th Century, History & the past: general interest (Children's / Teenage), JUVENILE NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Historical, JUVENILE NONFICTION / History / United States / 20th Century, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, People & places (Children's / Teenage), United States of America, USA, Children’s / Teenage general interest: History and the past, JUVENILE NONFICTION / Diversity & Multicultural, JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Topics / General, Children’s / Teenage: Social issues / topics